Halloween is one of my favorite holidays (tied with Christmas, of course!). And for me, one of the best parts of the holidays is decorating! I love decking out my area in cool festive decorations, but as a college student, this is easier said than done. When even small room pieces are priced in the double digits, your budget can fly out the window faster than a witch on her broomstick (that you can’t afford to buy). But don’t fret – decorating on a budget can be done!
Take advantage of the dining hall.
You’re paying for a meal plan, might as well make use of it! You can make a simple decoration by taking a bowl of mini M&Ms (I got mine from Bay State), and separating the fall-themed colors. I personally like using red, orange, yellow, and brown. Then, put them in a fall-themed jar or container, and keep them on your desk for a festive atmosphere (or a chocolatey pick-me-up after a long night of studying!)
Check out the local farmer’s market.
Every Thursday, the GSU plaza hosts a Farmer’s Market from 11am-3pm (until October 27th). Not only can you find yummy seasonal foods here, but you can find adorable mini pumpkins to decorate with. The one pictured above only cost $1.60! For added spookiness, you can draw Jack O’ Lantern patterns on them, or carve them if you can.
Look for the bargain bins.
Though lots of stores have entire sections dedicated to Halloween decorations, their prices can be unreasonable. Luckily, most stores have a bargain section near the registers. You can find loads of cute items to put around your room for a fraction of the normal cost. These hanging bats make my lofted bed a whole lot spookier, and only cost $1 at Target!
Check out the dollar store.
If you can find one, dollar stores are great places to find small trinkets for a low price. I found this fake lantern at a dollar store, and added a black electric tea light for an eerie touch (and throughout the rest of the year, you can replace it with a regular tea light for a pretty desk piece).
Coupons, Coupons, Coupons.
Never underestimate the power (cost-effectiveness) of coupons! CVS has catalogs filled with coupons sitting by their doors for customers to grab before they shop. My roommate and I were able to find this black plastic witch’s cauldron for around $2 and, with coupons, got two packs of candy corn for $5. After filling the cauldron with candy, it makes for a cute table piece!
Adapt common objects.
Not everything needs to be Halloween-specific to be a good decoration! One of the best parts of a holiday is the anticipation, and having a giant countdown in your room is the best way to get pumped! You can hang a chalkboard on your door (I found this owl one on sale from the CVS back-to-school section), and use Halloween colors to mark the countdown to Halloween!